history of Tango Blast

[REEBOK]

where did these guys come from

[canadadry]

"This new type of prison gang came to being in the early 1990s when Hispanic inmates from Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston banded together to protect themselves against more organized prison gangs such as the Mexican Mafia and the Texas Syndicate."

Since they are not classified as a STG like MM and TS they dont get segged, unless for an incident. No real leadership or or organization, just a speaker on each unit. Hundreds of Tango members on every unit.

[NewMission]

"This new type of prison gang came to being in the early 1990s when Hispanic inmates from Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston banded together to protect themselves against more organized prison gangs such as the Mexican Mafia and the Texas Syndicate."

Since they are not classified as a STG like MM and TS they dont get segged, unless for an incident. No real leadership or or organization, just a speaker on each unit. Hundreds of Tango members on every unit.

Clickin up with your city started before the 90's,but it was not called Tango Blast. I dont think the name was used until the mid 90's or later

[SWblocks-Veteran]

I really started hearing a lot about it in 96/97...a lot of the Mexicans from my neighborhood would come home saying they were down with "Houstone." I didnt hear people start claiming "TB" in the streets until like 01/02 it was always everyone saying "Houstone" before that, from my personal experience.

[REEBOK]

what kind of name is tango blast what does it mean

[canadadry]

"Tejanos against negative gangs and organizations"

Kind of ironic name considering what it has turned into.

[chupon106]

I really started hearing a lot about it in 96/97...a lot of the Mexicans from my neighborhood would come home saying they were down with "Houstone." I didnt hear people start claiming "TB" in the streets until like 01/02 it was always everyone saying "Houstone" before that, from my personal experience.

Same thing with the Vallucos. I've known Vallucos since the early 2000s and I barely started hearing TB in 06.

[short.texas]

what kind of name is tango blast what does it mean

Tango is a "spanglish" chicano word that is used to mean town so your "tango" would be your city or town where you're from. That whole acronym of tejanos against negative gang organizations is somewhat new and really has nothing to do with the origin of the word. So to be a little historical "Tango Blast" is really more of a phrase that's used for someone involve in this sort of "city gang." For example the different tangos would be Dallas, San Anto, Houstone, Foritos (Ft. Worth), Austin, The Valley (Valluco) and thats about it. You got dudes from Corpitos (Corpus Christi) but they've never had a tango that I've ever seen or heard of and I was down for about nine years. But this Tango thing is very similar to like what they have in California with the Surenos and Nortenos in the sense of not actually being part of any prison gang but you're down with a certain area or city or whatever. Although the Surenos and Nortenos are pretty much pimped by the Mexican Mafia and the Nuestra Familia which is unlike that in Texas. The whole Tango thing, like the Surenos and Nortenos is that its not an actual "gang" that you're in for life and that sort of thing. You don't have to be a part of it for the most part and it pretty much allows for people from actually having to be in a prison gang and still have protection.

[VALERO]

The Houston Chronicle just did a story on a big time drug dealer from Houstone Tango Blast that has connects to the Gulf Cartel in Mexico. This Mexican dude was straight ballin! He ran off to Mexico (however, he's Mexican-American, not an immigrant). Here's the article below with the link to the Chron.com website below (they have a pic of him and his Maserati).

Suspected drug boss ‘taunting' feds
Fugitive wanted here is living the good life in Mexico, authorities say
By DANE SCHILLER
Copyright 2009 Houston Chonicle
July 12, 2009, 10:11AM
1 2 3
photo
Dave Rossman For the Chronicle

A 2006 Maserati belonging to Raul Madrigal is among nine of his cars seized by authorities. They'll be sold at auction.

PHOTO GALLERY
See Madrigal's luxury cars that will be sold at auction

In one photo, FBI fugitive and Houston son Raul Madrigal is soaking in a giant bubble bath at an upscale Mexican hotel.

In another, the reputed drug boss with a shaved head and a whisper of a goatee is posing on the beach in Cabo San Lucas. And in others, also posted on the Web, he stares and extends a defiant middle finger, apparently at feds hunting him.

“He is kind of taunting us,” said Brian Ritchie, who leads the violent crimes and gangs task force for the FBI's Houston division, which has been trying to capture him for months.

Authorities contend Madrigal, 29, is a key member of the fast-growing Tango Blast — the largest gang in the city — and that from 2007 to 2009, he helped the Gulf Cartel pump millions of dollars worth of marijuana and cocaine into Houston and the surrounding area.

Fleeing to Mexico follows a Texas border crime tradition, but also speaks to what Washington sees as a growing threat posed by partnerships between Mexican drug cartels and U.S. gangs.

Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer testified before Congress last week that the Department of Justice plans to step up investigations of the ties as part of a strategy similar to what was previously used to take on the mafia and other international syndicates.

Madrigal apparently made so much money that authorities intend to seize $18 million in assets in the case against him and 13 other defendants charged with trafficking under Operation Broken Star.

They've already seized nine of Madrigal's bling cars, including a Bentley sedan, two BMWs and two Maseratis. All look showroom clean and remain parked in a heavily secured storage facility until they are sold at auction.

A 6.5 carat diamond ring also was taken as drug proceeds, as was a customized three-wheel T-Rex motorcycle, complete with ostrich-skin seats and an LCD monitor.

Authorities won't say whether they expect to see Madrigal in handcuffs anytime soon but note he's likely in a dangerous country where he can't stand alone. “He has probably aligned himself with some people who offer the protection he deserves and has earned,” Ritchie said.
Made friends in prison

In Houston, the conspiracy is alleged to have started months after U.S.-born Madrigal was released from his second stint in a Texas prison, where agents speculate he reinforced dubious connections.

Authorities said Tango Blast is an appealing partner for traffickers because it has many members and is spread out across the state. Other more traditional Latino gangs, such as the Mexican Mafia and the Texas Syndicate, also work with the cartels, according to a recent law enforcement report.

“People are so worried the cartels are going to come over here, but they have these people at their beck and call,” said Pat Villafranca, an FBI spokeswoman in Houston.

The cartel has the drug supply while the U.S. gangs know the streets, have the contacts and can blend in.

“They get these guys to do their dirty work,” said Rick Moreno, a Houston police homicide investigator who has mapped out local gang connections to cartel murders, kidnappings and other crimes.

Among others charged in the conspiracy is Saul Salinas, the brother of a trafficker gunned down here in 2006. The case was recently solved and the suspects await trial.

Tango Blast has been able to strengthen behind bars by attracting prison inmates looking for protection.

“Madrigal hooked up with all these people he met in prison and out of prison,” the FBI's Ritchie said. His biggest connection was Mario Gonzalez, an accused cartel member and fugitive.

Madrigal is charged in a conspiracy to move at least a ton of weed, but he is believed to have used a network of stash houses to sell about 5,000 pounds a month, enough to roll more than 3 million joints every 30 days.

Even if Madrigal, who has a list of prior criminal offenses, again sees a courtroom, there is no guarantee of conviction. Four times he's had charges against him dismissed, and he wasn't charged in the death of a rival killed in a shootout. He was convicted twice and went to prison, once for theft and again for drug dealing.

In the meantime, Madrigal's taunts give authorities motivation, said a veteran state law enforcement officer. “Old-school gangsters ... would never draw attention like that,” he said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hea ... 25227.html

[S.W.A.T. Guerilla]

That Gangland show on the History channel doing a episode on them next month, August 13.

[Klaxon]

SWAT, how do you know? Do you know where to find the Gangland schedule for the rest of the season? What other shows are they doing?

Anyway, here is a news article from Dallas on them:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 2fd2c.html

They are basically a very loosely organized group. No "blood in, blood out" stuff, no organized hierarchy. It was formed as protection from the Texas Mexican Mafia, Texas Syndicate, Pistoleros, etc. However, due to its loose hierarchy they attracted a lot of members and grew very fast and apparently have huge numbers among Mexican inmates in Texas prisons.

[S.W.A.T. Guerilla]

SWAT, how do you know? Do you know where to find the Gangland schedule for the rest of the season? What other shows are they doing?
http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/gangland/?ipp=40

[S.W.A.T. Guerilla]

http://tv.msn.com/tv/series-episodes/gangland/?ipp=40